United States and the Spanish Civil War Essay

Throughout history, isolationism has been the United States' practice in foreign Policy on world affairs. In 1936 fascist aggression became prevalent in the Spanish republic, leading to the Spanish civil war. The Spanish Civil War was fought in Europe during the 20th century, it began a perplexity of social, economic, and Political turmoil within Spain. On July 17, 1936, A military revolt by the Spanish nationalist army was led by General Francisco Franco. General Franco was the leader of the Spanish nationalist party who staged a coup after the 1936 elections produced a Popular Front government that represented the Democratic Republic and was supported mainly by left-wing parties. The popular front party believed in a political movement that separated the church from state affairs, it was composed of working-class citizens such as urban workers, laborers, and the educated middle class. This party's political views were primarily focused on democracy and liberalism.  

General Francisco Franco, the opposition party and rebel Nationalist leader supported ideas of conservative elements in the clergy, military, and landowners as well as the fascist Falange. Nationalist infiltrations in the highest ranks of religious and political institutions began to be influenced by communism and fascism. Franco and his party did not want to separate nationalism and Catholicism; Franco himself benefited from the traditional ties to the Catholic Church. Because nationalists believed their ideology was a great framework against radical upheaval and promoted social order, they centered their policies on the love of order, Militant Catholicism, dictatorship, and hierarchy.

During the war, both the nationalist party and the republican party of Spain sought the help of foreign countries such as the United States, Portugal, Germany Italy, Mexico, and the Soviet Union. While many European power countries during this era aided either side of the Spanish Civil war with ammunition, guns, tanks, and other resources, despite previously signing a non-intervention treaty, the United States of America stayed isolationist during this period because of the fear of interventionism and going to war.  To remain neutral to avoid war and any foreign conflicts in the international political and social affairs of other countries was in the best interest of the country because America’s economy was in shambles due to the great depression and World War I. This convinced many American people to stay neutral and avoid war. During this time, Franklin D. Roosevelt was the American president in office, and his political agenda was to focus more on domestic problems in American society by financially reforming America's federal spending and alleviating U. S citizens out of the economic strife brought on by the great depression. To push this political agenda, FDR created the 1930s New Deal bill which primarily focused on boosting the economy by providing jobs and relief to those in need with new social welfare programs such as the civilian conservation corps, the agriculture adjustment administration, and the federal housing administration. These programs advocated for equal housing and pay amongst the American working class, they set a minimum wage and a maximum of work hours for workers supplied jobs and housing to the unemployed.

In Franklin D Roosevelt's Quarantine speech on October 5th, 1937, He stated, “It is true that the moral consciousness of the world must recognize the importance of removing injustices and well-founded grievances; but at the same time, it must be aroused to the cardinal necessity of honoring the sanctity of treaties, of respecting the rights and liberties of others, and of putting an end to acts of international aggression”. This proves that President Franklin D Roosevelt did not want a war to interfere with U.S economic recovery. Instead, he wanted to stabilize the economy while expanding the federal government's role and scope in our economy, therefore he was not primarily focused on foreign policy. This did not stop American citizens from taking part in domestic and international affairs in other ways, although the American government remained neutral.

Although the U.S government felt that being neutral was in America’s best interest, many American citizens reacted to the Spanish civil war with a cultural and political movement because they felt the need to support and rally for Spanish democracy, liberty, and freedom. Over 3,000 Americans went to Spain to fight in either the Republic army or Nationalist Army. It is estimated that 2,600 of those men fought in the Republic Army American brigades such as the Abraham Lincoln Brigade, John Brown, and George Washington brigade. The U.S citizens also made substantial medical aid donations of ambulances and other medical supplies, food, and clothing. Many American citizens continued to travel to Spain, although it meant risking their lives coming through other European countries. This movement of support led the American government to take precautions in remaining neutral by imposing the 1937 neutrality act, which included an embargo that acts that “limited U.S citizens from traveling on belligerent ships, traveling to fight in other countries wars and prohibiting American merchants from transporting arms to Spain” easing the turmoil in Europe.

In hindsight, I believe that not intervening in the Spanish civil war and staying neutral was beneficial to the United States because if we did intervene, we would not have had the resources to support American troops or resources for equipment overseas, since our economy was still reeling from the great depression. I also believe that the United States does not have the right to intervene in every foreign nation’s humanitarian or political affairs unless it is a world threat, it is asked to intervene on the behalf of another country, or unless its aiding refugees from other nations. Some problems solve themselves because eventually, a war must end; one side will eventually have depleted military resources. In my opinion, nations' boundaries exist for a reason. If we were involved in the Spanish civil war or, protecting America’s homeland would be compromised, leaving us open for invasion with our economy. Therefore, I agree with the American choice of non-Intervention in the Spanish civil war.